The use of insecticides known as insect growth regulators, which are considered more selective to natural enemies, may be an alternative to integrated pest management of stink bugs of the main crops in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate histological changes in the reproductive system of Dichelops melacanthus as well as female fecundity and egg fertility after use of growth-regulating insecticides. The insecticides used were buprofezin (a chitin biosynthesis inhibitor) at a sublethal concentration (LC 30 of 2.99 g L -1 ) and pyriproxyfen (a juvenile hormone analog) at a sublethal concentration (LC 30 of 8.35 mL L -1 ). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with 10 repetitions and 10 insects per experimental unit. Two bioassays were performed: in the first bioassay, fecundity (eggs/ female) and fertility (nymph eclosion) of the insects that survived the insecticides were evaluated; in the second bioassay, morphological alterations of the ovarioles of adult females and of the testes of adult male insects that survived the insecticides were evaluated. Buprofezin and pyriproxyfen did not affect the adult sex ratio or female fecundity. Pyriproxyfen reduced the percentage of ecloded nymphs (71.6%) compared with that of the control and buprofezin (96.4 and 90.6%, respectively) treatments and had an ovicidal effect, with direct and indirect action on embryogenesis. Morphological changes were observed in both treatments with buprofezin and pyriproxyfen. The alterations observed in female and male reproductive systems may occur by the action of buprofezin and pyriproxyfen on the morphology of both ovarioles and testes. Key words: Dose-response curve. Endocrine disruption. Green-belly stink bug. Insect growth regulators. Reproductive organ morphology.
ResumoA utilização de inseticidas conhecidos como reguladores de crescimento dos insetos, considerados mais seletivos a inimigos naturais, pode ser uma alternativa no manejo integrado no que se refere ao controle de percevejos-pragas das principais culturas no Brasil. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar alterações histológicas causadas no aparelho reprodutor de Dichelops melacanthus e a fecundidade das fêmeas e fertilidade de ovos, após o uso de inseticidas reguladores de crescimento. utilizados foram buprofezina (inibidor da biossíntese de quitina), na concentração subletal CL 30 2,99 g L -1 , e o piriproxifem (análogo do hormônio juvenil) na concentração subletal CL 30 8,35 mL L -1 . O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com 10 repetições e 10 insetos por repetição. Foram realizados dois bioensaios: no primeiro foi avaliada a fecundidade (número de ovos/fêmea) e a fertilidade (número de ninfas eclodidas) dos insetos que sobreviveram aos produtos. No segundo bioensaio, foram avaliadas as alterações morfológicas de ovaríolos de fêmeas e testículo de machos de percevejos adultos, que sobreviveram à ação dos inseticidas. Buprofezina e piriproxifem não afetaram a razão sexual de adultos ou mesmo a fecundidade das ...